[ His expression turns sympathetic, since he does understand, more than he tends to understand anyone else's pain. It's a fear of being a monster, of not knowing whether it's true or not. The fear he had felt in the Spire still burns deeply in his chest, since Rhys had called him a monster, and so Cole had to accept that as a truth. He wanted to get better, which is why he had followed the Templars until he found the Inquisitor, but it was something he still had to accept as at least partially true.

But this is where Compassion takes over, so he steps forward gingerly to place a hand on her shoulder, a quiet comfort that he feels he can provide, though his touch is soft if she wants to pull away. ]

Then you aren't a monster.

[ His voice is certain and soft, full of a gentle warmth that only comes when Cole feels more certain that he's helping rather than hurting. ]

A monster is a monster because of what it does. And people are frightened, so they make people into monsters, since they're afraid of being hurt. But not everything different hurts. I understand.